Keep my YZ250 or KTM 300 SX?

I don’t have a comparison for you but I would only go 300 over 250 if your a lugger. The 300 is a great off-road motor but they aren’t super fun on the track if you like to rev the bike out. 

Have you done any engine mods to your 250 yet?

Well lets see. 1 of those bikes has 9 SX and 4 MX Titles. The other has zero..

When did they race a 300 in sx and mx? Open class early 90s?

I would get a carb model 300 if you make the switch. Fuel injected ones have proven to be a headache at times, both tbi and tpi. 

YZs rule. KTMs are cool too.

I dunno bro.

I’ve owned quite a few YZ250s. They’re amazing. I’d say keep it…

The fuck?

What kind of riding do you do?

My gut says keep the Yamaha. It’s paid off? Put the extra cash towards riding. Go take a trip somewhere and find a sweet place to rip. 

YZ250’s are just a solid, fun bike to own. 

If you're basing your buying decision off of winning titles at the Professional level then the YZ 250 is always the answer.  

There is not another motorcycle made that has won as many titles in as many different disciplines as the YZ 250.

Since the KTM is a 250 with a big bore kit on it, you could get a bolt on big bore kit for your YZ and try it out (for about $800 - $1000) and see if you like it.  

By his logic, I would go with the perfect season 02 cr. But I imagine most people understand that wouldn’t be the best move lol 

Coincidentally, this just came across my feed....

 

While that is surprising, the way some of these guys ride two strokes (winding it out in 1st and 2nd gear) I’m not that surprised.

HA! Tough question.....I have a YZ250X and recently sold my 300 TPI.

I'm at 155 or so fully geared and 5' 8". Loved my 300 with all its grunt, but I ride the 250X better!

Now I've added a YX144X to the stable and it now gets the favorite attention. It is the weight issue for me. Plus the KYB's!!

Lectron carb is on all three of my YZ's and on my Honda Shifter Kart...

I had a 23 300sx. It was a fun bike, but traded another vital member for his yz450. I’m not sold on the air fork. I am casually looking for a 22+ yz250 for a 2nd bike. My recommendation would be to update your 2020 with the 2022+ subframe, seat, tank etc. 

Something fishy here. Look at all the carbon? on the bottom of the piston, in the cylinder and bottom end. Looks like it ingested dirt.

I haven't ridden the ktm 300 but I did ride the beta rx 300. Did 2 laps and gave it back, that motor did nothing for me. 

I had yz250's forever and loved them. Only reason i sold my last one was to get a 450 for the vet class. 

Obviously you have never ridden the TBI bikes. I have been told they have a ton of over-rev and hit hard.

I own one and can assure they do not.  In fact in stock trim many dyno’s have the 300sx making less power then the prior gen 250sx, not to mention its 15lbs heavier then the 19-22’ 250sx, weights more then a 2022 450sxf but everyone ignores that lol 

Cayden I have a 250sx tbi and im in Bend, come ride some dez and take it for a rip, it will feel soft off the bottom and smoother then your yz. 

 

I bought a 24 and did the following.

Two Stroke Performance mods.Bills pipe and silencer.

ECU remap, hi compression head insert. 
It ran exactly how Steve said it would!! 

Leaner (cleaned up) bottom end and they richen up the lean mid-top. The bike comes on stronger off the bottom and revs way further than stock. Overall the power is broader making it easier to ride. It’s definitely not as explosive off the bottom as a carbureted 250.. It is definitely a better option in my opinion if you’re a heavier person north of maybe 190 pounds.. The torque definitely helps. Just my two cents 

Given that video I'd look for a 250SX with a carb and send it. 

Ride one sometime.  Exactly the opposite of what you said.  They literally have a rev-limiter so low on overrev compared to a carb bike.  And they are known for having less hit and being more "4-stroke like" as far as 2-strokes go.   More linear and broad.  Which may be a pro or con depending on preferences.

The bike in the video did not ingest dirt.  Unfortunately, this type of failure is disturbingly common with these bikes.  I think the dark stuff you are seeing is the exploded piston teflon coating that is now ground into all the metal chunks.

I own a 24 250xc. And a  24 300sx. Have owned several yz 250s in the past. I have ridden a 24 250 yz and my 250xc back to back. The yz had a pipe and porting.  Feels like it had 15hp on my 250xc. My 300 has more low end grunt. Obviously. The yz is old school 2 strk heaven. That being said I like how easy the 300 and the xc are to ride and race. Less tiring . I am very happy with the ktm bikes.

I had my 21 Ktm 250 blow up exactly like that at around 15-20 hours. Thankfully it was in a berm and Ktm covered everything, even bought me a new fmf pipe as it has piston metal in it!

I have ridden both bikes.  I’ve been on Ktm’s since I switched to two strokes full time in 2016. I put 80 trouble free hours on my 23 300sx before selling it to a friend that has had another trouble free year on it. My 24 has 75 hours and not a single issue, I have two friends with 23’s as well with no issue. I’m sure the people replying about these having issue are not making it up but it’s not been the case with the four I’ve been around. 

The reply about 300’s not being fun on tracks is absurd and he’s either never ridden one or doesn’t ride two strokes well. Go watch Jacobs Hayes review of the 23 Ktm 300, he literally couldn’t hold back his excitement. 

Compared to the carb Ktm’s I owned 4 ktms, two 250’s and the last two 300’s built by twisted, my current 24 with a pc pipe/silencer and the twisted map is better than any of those carb bikes. 

Compared to the yz, I really wanted to switch to a yz250 and got a chance to ride one back to back with my 300. I was really bummed because I just didn’t like the yz at all. I did like the power delivery, classic two strokes feel. Problem was though is it vibrates so much compared to the Ktm 300. It was also considerably slower than my 300. I race 450’s all the time and I feel like I’m at no disadvantage on my 300. If I did go yz I’d have to make it a 300 so I could race 450’s more competitively. 

The bigger issue for me was the handling and general feel of the yz, so that along with the vibration had me change my mind instantly and sticking with the Ktm. With you already on a yz the issue I had are probably not issues for you, or you could get on the 300sx and love it.  

I’d do anything I could to try one out and see what ya think for yourself.

Here is my first ride ever back when I got my 23 300sx. Such a fun bike!!

https://www.decalmx.com/product/full-restyled-plastic-kit/2074/polisport-blue/4731

Mistake? That depends more on you and your mindset than the bike, most of the time.

What are the pros/cons? New, exciting, e-start, less vibration, sharper handling chassis, Brembo brakes/hydraulic clutch. But all that comes at a literal cost - Expensive for what they are and the air forks will never be in the same league as your KYB’s. Even the shock action and component quality of your YZ is A-Kit by comparison. The heavier and more complicated TBI two smokes are everything real two strokes are not, heavy and complicated. Any little issue can resort to a dealer visit to rectify, and I’m simply not on board yet.

Have you ridden both, which one do you prefer and why? I’m fortunate in the sense that I get to ride alot of bikes; both are very unique and fun to ride. The 300SX is great for vet and senior riders coming back to 2T’s after years on 450’s, as they respond well to riding the torque curve and being lugged. If you like a free-revving 2T nature, the 250SX is more up your alley. The 300SX is almost a modern day 500cc smoker in the sense that the engine profile is that strong. Having said that, I’d still buy a 22’+ YZ250 before ever spending money on a TBI experiment. I’ve had too many friends encounter problems, can’t justify the high cost of entry/replacement part pricing, and do not get along with air forks, plain and simple. Every time I ride a stock YZinger I’m amazed how good Yamaha did all those years ago. They are a very known entity, handle neutrally (a character getting lost more and more these days…), and supported by the aftermarket in every possible way. 

I’ll never be one to say don’t buy a new scoot, just weigh the Pros and Cons and try to ride one if you have a chance. Sometimes all it takes is one ride, you’ll know.

https://www.dirtrider.com/story/tests/2022-yamaha-yz250-first-ride-review/

https://www.dirtrider.com/story/tests/ktm-125-sx-250-sx-300-sx-first-ride-review-2023/